Michael Cloud Bio
Michael Jonathan Cloud (born May 13, 1975) is an American politician who has represented Texas’s 27th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Cloud won a special election and was sworn into Congress in July 2018 after succeeding Blake Farenthold. He previously chaired the Victoria County Republican Party from 2010 to 2017 and graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in mass media communications.
Early Life and Background
Michael Jonathan Cloud was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on May 13, 1975, and grew up in the United States. He later pursued his higher education in Oklahoma, where he attended Oral Roberts University. At the university, Cloud studied mass media communications and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1997. He was also a member of the cross country and track teams during his college years, reflecting an early interest in athletics alongside his academic work.
After completing his degree, Cloud built a life in Texas, where he would eventually become involved in state and local Republican politics. His combination of a communications background and a growing interest in civic affairs helped lay the groundwork for his future career in public service. He later became an active member of his local community in Victoria County, taking on leadership roles within the regional party organization.
Path to US Politics
Cloud’s entry into politics began at the local level, when he was elected to chair the Victoria County Republican Party, a position he held from 2010 to 2017. In that role, he helped organize party activities and supported Republican candidates across the county, gaining valuable experience in campaign operations and political organizing. His steady work within the county party raised his profile among Texas Republican leaders.
In 2018, following the resignation of Representative Blake Farenthold, who had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit with public money, Cloud entered the special election to represent Texas’s 27th congressional district. He won the Republican runoff with support from groups such as the Club for Growth and the endorsement of former Representative Ron Paul, who had previously represented parts of the district. On June 30, 2018, Cloud won the special election against Democratic nominee Eric Holguin, 55% to 32%, and was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on July 10, 2018.
Michael Cloud Career
Early Career (2010–2017)
Before running for federal office, Michael Jonathan Cloud spent several years building a foundation in local Republican politics in Texas. From 2010 to 2017, he served as chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party, helping guide the party’s strategy and candidate support in the region. This period allowed him to establish relationships with state-level party figures and conservative policy organizations that would later back his congressional bid.
His work with the county party also gave him direct experience in voter outreach, campaign planning, and coalition building. By the time Blake Farenthold’s seat opened, Cloud had become a respected local party leader ready to step into a larger role.
Congressional Breakthrough (2018)
Michael Jonathan Cloud’s congressional career began with his victory in the 2018 special election for Texas’s 27th district. After winning the Republican runoff with the support of the Club for Growth and the endorsement of former Representative Ron Paul, he defeated Democrat Eric Holguin 55% to 32% on June 30, 2018. He was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on July 10, 2018, becoming the district’s representative.
Just months later, Cloud entered the regularly scheduled November 2018 election and won decisively, taking 60.3% of the vote against Holguin, independent James Duerr, and Libertarian Daniel Tinus. The twin victories established him as the clear incumbent heading into his first full term.
Tenure in the House (2018–Present)
Since taking office, Michael Jonathan Cloud has served on multiple House committees and participated in high-profile votes on national issues. He is a member of the Department of Government Efficiency Committee. In December 2020, he was one of 126 Republican members of the House to sign an amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case, ruling that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.
During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Cloud and his colleagues were moved to a secure location; he later drew attention for refusing to wear a mask, in violation of House rules. In 2021, he was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq, and in 2023, he was among 47 Republicans voting for H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days. He voted for Israel support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and in January 2023, he voted for Jim Jordan to be U.S. House speaker in rebuke of House minority leader Kevin McCarthy.
Cloud has also taken positions on immigration and spending. He voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, which expanded H-2B visas, and against the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which restricted cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services. In October 2024, he demanded answers from ICE after a report that nearly 300,000 migrant children had disappeared from tracking. In 2022, he was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package targeting anti-competitive corporate behavior, and he was among 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Michael Jonathan Cloud’s most defining early moment was his 2018 special-election win, which launched his federal career. He has since been part of several consequential House votes, including the December 2020 amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, his 2021 vote to repeal the Iraq AUMF, his 2023 vote on H.Con.Res. 21, and his January 2023 vote for Jim Jordan as House speaker.
Michael Cloud Career Wins
Michael Jonathan Cloud has won three verified congressional elections in Texas’s 27th district: the 2018 special election, the 2018 regularly scheduled general election, and the 2020 general election. Each victory was decisive and helped cement his hold on the seat.
Congressional Highlights
Cloud’s first congressional win came in the June 30, 2018 special election, where he defeated Democrat Eric Holguin 55% to 32%. He followed that with a 60.3% victory in the November 2018 general election against Holguin, independent James Duerr, and Libertarian Daniel Tinus. In the 2020 general election, he won a third time with 63.1% of the vote, defeating Democrat Ricardo “Rick” De La Fuente and Libertarian Phil Gray.
Other Wins and Achievements
Before reaching Congress, Michael Jonathan Cloud served as chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party from 2010 to 2017, a leadership role in which he helped organize and support Republican candidates in his region. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in mass media communications from Oral Roberts University in 1997 and competed on the school’s cross country and track teams.
Michael Cloud Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Michael Jonathan Cloud is married to Rosel Cloud, and the couple has three children. He is Protestant, and the family has made their home in Texas, where he has built both his political career and his personal life.
Personal Life
Outside of his work in Congress, Cloud is known for his long-standing ties to Victoria County, where he led the local Republican Party for several years before being elected to the U.S. House. His family life with Rosel Cloud and their three children has remained a central part of his public identity, complementing his role as a representative of Texas’s 27th congressional district.